Kathryn Blackford
BUCYRUS — Kathryn E. “Kate” (Shumaker) Blackford, 90, of Bucyrus died early Monday morning, Dec. 4, 2006, at Heartland of Bucyrus.

She was born in Whetstone Township on Sept. 21, 1916, to Guy and Viola (Bauer) Shumaker. She married Allen Blackford on Feb. 15, 1936. He preceded her in death on July 20, 1969.

She is survived by three daughters, Anne (Steve) Fisher of New Washington, Phyllis (Bob) Crall of Bucyrus, Linda (Garrett) Swendal of Howard; an “adopted” daughter, Dr. Tammie Arnold of Bucyrus; nine grandchildren, Debby Grove of Mansfield, Jerry Kalb of Euclid, Kimberly (Lee) North of Dublin, Jon (Danielle) Crall of Mount Orab, Allen (Laura) Fisher of Minneapolis, Minn., Wendy Figgins of Mount Vernon, Troy (Catie) Swendal of Columbus, Travis (Carrie) Swendal of Butler and Nathan (Kelly) Swendal of Columbus; 14 great-grandchildren, Eric and Krista Grove, Joseph and Austin Kalb, Eli, Ty, Ben and Abe Crall, Owen and Karlee North, Trey Figgins, Logan and Landon Swendal and Reagan Swendal. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the joy of her life. Also surviving are two sisters, Donna Knisely of Hendersonville, Tenn., and Marvel Dornan of Thornville; and sister-in-law, Belle Shumaker of North Robinson.

Kate was also preceded in death by brothers, Robert and Donald Shumaker; and sisters, Dorothy Dinkel and Marilyn Sloyer, as well as her best friend, Mary Galitza.

She lived her entire life in Crawford County and after her husband’s death moved to Bucyrus in 1973, and then to an apartment at Kettle Run in 2003.

She was a graduate of North Robinson High School in 1934 and was very active in athletics while there. Kate was employed at Crawford Community Credit Union as treasurer and office manager. Following her retirement in 1987, she served as an auditor there.

Kathryn was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and served as a council member, a member of WELCA and served on the district board.

She was a member of the Republican Women and was named Republican of the Year in 1996. She also held membership in the local AARP, a 4-H advisor, volunteer with American Cancer Society, delivered meals on wheels, served on the election board and was named to the Crawford County Hall of Fame in 1988.

Kate was an avid golfer, painted many pictures for family and friends, and was a fan of the Cleveland Indians, Browns, OSU football, basketball and professional golf. She also enjoyed reading, especially John Grisham and Scott Turow works. She enjoyed communicating with friends and family by computer. She enjoyed her family and friends and loved gardening.

Service for Kathryn will be Thursday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Bucyrus with the Rev. Don L. Neumann officiating. Burial will be in Sandusky Cemetery. Friends may call Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Wise Funeral Home, 129 W. Warren St., Bucyrus. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Research for Children through the funeral home. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to www.wisefuneral.com.

Robert F. Cline
BELLVILLE — Robert F. Cline, 71, of 5576 O’Possum Run Road, Bellville, died Saturday morning, Dec. 2, 2006, in Colonial Manor Health Care Center, Loudonville, following a lengthy illness.

Mr. Cline was born Aug. 14, 1935, in Butler and was the son of the late Robert F. and Irene (McFarland) Cline. He grew up in Knox County, graduating from Danville High School, attended Miami University for one year, entered the U.S. Army, and later graduated from Otterbein College with a degree in education. His teaching career began in 1963 in the Loudonville-Perrysville Schools where he taught science and physical education. In 1966 he was hired by Toledo Whitmer High School where he finished his career, retiring in 1989. At Whitmer he coached track, and cross country for 23 years. In 1991 he received the Ed Barker Award from the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches, of which he served as president in 1986 and 1987. In 1997 he was inducted into the Whitmer High School Hall of Fame in recognition of his coaching career.

His hobbies included landscaping, wildflower gardening and family genealogy research.

He is survived by his wife, Donna (Bookwalter) Jacobs Cline, whom he married Dec. 26, 1982; one daughter and son-in-law, Deborah and Michael Stanko of Parma; one son and daughter-in-law, Michael R. and Karin Cline of Shanghai, China; one stepdaughter and son-in-law, Diana and Steve Stockmaster of Centerburg; one stepson and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Merri Jacobs of Bucyrus; four grandchildren; five stepgrandchildren; three brothers and sisters-in-law, James and Hazel Cline of Danville, Larry and Sue Cline of Columbus, and Tom and Carolyn Cline of Mount Vernon; one sister, Judy Thomas of Washington; and three stepsisters and brothers-in-law, Susan and Dwight Stake of Loudonville, Julianne and Dana Zody of Perrysville and Carol Beck of Loudonville.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Irene Black; father, Robert F. Cline Sr.; and stepfather, Harvey Black.

Services will be held Saturday, Dec. 9, at 1:30 p.m. in Byerly-Lindsey Funeral Home, Loudonville, with the Rev. Ben Roby, chaplain of Hospice of North Central Ohio, officiating. Visitation will be Friday, Dec. 8, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. in the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of North Central Ohio, 1605 County Road 1095, Ashland, OH 44805; or Alzheimer’s Association, Northwest Ohio Chapter, 1 Marion Ave., Mansfield, OH 44903. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.Byerly-Lindsey.com.

Creta Hankins
MIAMI, Fla. — Creta Hankins, 78, of Miami, Fla., died Thursday, Nov. 30, 2006, in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Born July 30, 1928, in Frederick Township, Ohio, she was the daughter of Albert Sr. and Catherine (Rush) Summit. She attended the Owl Creek Harmony Primitive Baptist Church. Mrs. Hankins enjoyed spending time with her family, cooking, baking and crocheting. She also enjoyed fishing with her husband, picnicking, playing cards, and watching westerns and game shows with her loved ones.

She is survived by one daughter, Sallie Hankins Hoovler of Miami, Fla.; son, Mark A. (Bridget) Hankins of Mansfield; grandchildren, Emily Hoovler of Los Angeles, Calif., Doug (Sarah) Hankins of Columbus, Jennifer (Scott) Hankins Pore of Lexington and Jacob Hankins of Mansfield; great-grandchildren, Raven, Collin and Anastasia Hankins; one sister, Dessie St. Jacques of Alachua, Fla.; and one brother, Albert Summit Jr. of Columbus.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Mack E. Hankins, in August 2006; her parents; and two brothers, Willis and John Summit.

A graveside service will be held Wednesday, Dec. 6, at 1:30 p.m. in Mansfield Memorial Park. Friends may call prior to the graveside service from noon to 1 p.m. at the Ontario Home of Wappner Funeral Directors. Online guest registry at www.wappner.com.

Marilyn K. Loren
MARION — Marilyn K. Loren, 71, of Seaton Square, Marion, died Saturday, Dec. 2, 2006, at 10:55 a.m., at Marion Manor Nursing Home.

She was born July 13, 1935, in Canton, Ohio, to the late Jester O. and Lucille (Staats) Engle. Marilyn married Jack L. Loren on July 18, 1960, and he preceded her in death on Oct. 11, 1978. She was a graduate of the Mount Vernon High School Class of 1954, a member of Forest Lawn Presbyterian Church of Marion. Marilyn will be greatly missed by family and friends.

Surviving are two sons, Randy L. Loren of Marion and Ronald L. (Brenda) Loren of Tucson, Ariz.; and one brother, James L. (Mary) Engle of Crestline.

Friends will be received Thursday, Dec. 7, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Denzer-Farison-Hottinger & Snyder Funeral Home, where services will be held Friday, Dec. 8, at 10 a.m. with Lay Minister Richard Mickley officiating. Private burial will follow in the Rivercliff Cemetery in Mount Gilead.

If desired memorial contributions may be made to the Forest Lawn Presbyterian Church, 908 E. Center St., Marion, OH 43302. Online condolences can be expressed to the family at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.

Tammy Severns
MOUNT VERNON — Tammy Lynn “Doc” Severns, 40, of Mount Vernon died Dec. 3, 2006, at her residence.

She was born Jan. 17, 1966, in Steubenville to Jackie William and Elizabeth Ann (Fursh) Gross. She was formerly employed with the PACS in Mount Vernon.

She is survived by her husband, William (Bill) Harrison Severns, to whom she has been married five years; two daughters, Stephine Mann of Steubenville and Danielle (Joel) Stachler of Danville; a son, Eric Severns of Mount Vernon; one grandchild, Korbin Stachler; two brothers, Steve (Kay) Burkey and Albert Burkey, both of Steubenville; and mother-in-law, Zelda Severns of Danville.

Besides her parents she was preceded in death by a brother, Thomas Burkey.

Friends may call today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the North-Dilley Funeral Home, where the funeral service will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. with the Revs. Dr. Winfield Strout and Ellen Clodfelter officiating. Burial will be in Amity Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family in care of the funeral home. This obituary and an online registry may be viewed at www.dilleyfuneralservice.com.

Kenneth Sickels
MOUNT VERNON — Kenneth Sickels, 67, of Harcourt Street, Mount Vernon, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2006, at the Whispering Hills Care Center.

He was born on July 21, 1939, in Coshocton, son to the late Ellsworth and Amy (Smart) Sickels. Kenneth retired from the U.S. Army after 20 years of service from 1954 to 1974 where he served in the Vietnam War. After retirement he was employed as a security guard at Continental Can, Cooper Energy Services and Kelsey-Hayes. Kenneth was a member of the Overcomers Christian Church, the Moose, Veterans of Foreign Wars, AMVETS, and a life member of the Eagles here in Mount Vernon.

He is survived by his wife of 18 years, Pearl (Reynolds) Sickels; three sons, Michael Sickels of Colorado Springs, Colo., Jason Sickels of North Plat, Neb., and Kevin Sickels of North Plat, Neb.; three stepsons, Garland Fletcher of Mount Vernon, Ned Fletcher of Mount Vernon and Elisha Johnson of Mount Vernon; a daughter, Debbie Sickels of Colorado Springs, Colo.; three stepdaughters, Karen Fletcher of Mount Vernon, Regina Chambless of Mount Vernon and Tammy Lewellen of Mount Vernon; three grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; seven stepgreat-grandchildren; and two sisters, Audrey Sealders of Coshocton and Mary Divelbiss of Ashland.

Besides his parents, Kenneth was preceded in death by a grandson, Christopher Hess; a brother, Robert Sickels; and a sister, Dorothy Moore.

There will be no calling hours. The family will observe a memorial service on Saturday, Dec. 9, beginning at 1 p.m. at the Overcomers Christian Church, 109 Madison St., Mount Vernon, with the Rev. Joe Overholt officiating. The arrangements are under the care and direction of the Dowds-Snyder Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions can be given to the family. This obituary and online condolences can be accessed at www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.